Enslaved Muslims in Early America: Evidence and Memory
Ali emphasizes that Muslim Africans were present in early America—perhaps up to about 30% of the transatlantic arrivals—and highlights Omar Ibn Said as a documented example of an educated enslaved Muslim whose Arabic manuscript survives.
The full story
Tazeen Ali reminded listeners that Islam was not only an abstract test case in founding-era debates but also present in lived experience: many enslaved Africans brought to America practiced Islam. She cited scholarly estimates suggesting a significant share of trafficked Africans were Muslim and pointed to surviving Arabic manuscripts and names as evidence.
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